Costly Games

March 16, 1986

Sanford's fight with the county over a piece of ground to dump treated sewage has already cost more than $60,000 in legal fees. Before the smoke clears, the tab will pass $200,000 as, ironically, each side tries to serve the same people, who, incidentally, will pay these legal bills.

If ever there were an argument for a single regional utility authority, this is it.

Most politicians and bureaucrats can quickly offer reasons why such an authority will not work, but they are wearing blinders made of personal turf. Playing with millions of dollars in utility fees can confer an awesome sense of power.

Meanwhile, everyone loses.

The city and county argue that their aggressive postures over the Yankee Lake property west of Sanford are in the best interests of their respective responsibilities. That is correct: Sanford is under state orders to quit dumping effluent in the St. Johns River. And the county needs a sewage plant to serve an environmentally sensitive area.

Either way, the winner will run a regional sewage plant that serves substantially the same people. At issue: Which entity will control growth in this area?

The absurdity is not unique. In south Seminole, the county has required a shopping center to use county water. But to get there, water lines will cross over and under existing Casselberry lines. Casselberry is suing the county and meanwhile, the same two governments are bidding up the price of a privately owned sewer system they both want.

Arguments will be made that, because of long-term bond commitments or the complexities of rights of way or service agreements, a single utility is not practical. Meanwhile, the ratepayers get socked and the lawyers get rich.